The objectives of the Urban Research Programme are to:
- strengthen the knowledge base and expertise of increasing regional vitality and well-being
- produce new research data for the city to support decision-making in accordance with the themes of the strategy, Mayoral Programme and key projects
- increase the effectiveness of academic urban research and interactive reflection on how urban policy can apply results and draw on knowledge.
Urban Research Programme 2022–2025
The Urban Research Programme funds research projects in accordance with the Mayoral Programme and the themes of the strategy of Turku. However, the research projects funded under these themes are academic in their starting points.
The research programme broadly defines the research topic and gives examples of possible research topics but leaves a more detailed definition of the actual research questions and the content of the research to researchers.
Funded research projects
Research projects funded under the Urban Research Programme are expected to be based on a scientific framework and produce results that are also applicable to the city’s development activities. The City of Turku has funded projects under the Urban Research Programme since 2010.
- Assistant Professor Nora Fagerholm & research group: Just Trees – multispecies well-being and accessibility of urban nature in densifying cities (University of Turku, geography & biodiversity unit, and Aalto University, landscape architecture)
- Senior Researcher, Docent Aleksi Karhula & research group: Reflecting the socio-economic segregation of residential areas on the accumulation of educational risks and people’s life courses (University of Turku, social sciences/INVEST & THL)
- Assistant Professor Erik Mäkelä & research group: Housing offering as the attraction of a city: What kind of construction can support Turku's growth? (University of Turku, economics, & Aalto University, real estate economics)
- Professor Anne-Greta Nyström & research group: Machine Learning for Urban Management: Value-focused Decision-Making for Intelligent Traffic in the City of Turku (ÅA, international business & information systems)
- Professor Maija S. Peltola & working group (University of Turku, phonetics / multidisciplinary expert group on speech learning): Supporting language proficiency as a path to equality and inclusion in learning
- University Lecturer Jarkko Rasinkangas & working group (University of Turku, social work, Turku School of Economics, Pori, & Satakunta University of Applied Sciences): Paths of homelessness in the Turku region – from transformations towards social, health, economic and technological sustainability
- Professor André Sourander & working group (University of Turku, medicine, nursing science, public health, psychology, education and statistics): Changes in the well-being of children and young people in Turku and the neighbouring municipalities, the use of services, mobility habits and everyday life with media
- Professor Ron Zevenhoven & working group (ÅA, Process and systems engineering (PST), Accounting and control, Public administration & London School of Economics and Political Science, Public policy): Heat pumps incorporation in Turku's renewable energy infrastructure
- Professor Magnus Hellström & working group (Åbo Akademi University, Laboratory of Industrial Management & Turku University, Centre for Collaborative Research): Smart Port City: Towards enhanced digital integration of port and urban activities
- Professor Minna Opas & working group (Turun yliopisto, Centre for the Study of Christian Cultures): Pilgrimage in motion: Motives and meanings of pilgrimage in Turku in the Middle Ages and today
- Professor Hannu Ruonavaara & working group (University of Turku, Sociology & Aalto University, Architecture & University of Helsinki, Social Policy): Housing, social inclusion and land value in urban waterside areas
- Docent Tiina Suopajärvi & working group (University of Turku, ethnology, cultural history, museology & Åbo Akademi University, cultural analysis): Planned, perceived and sensed socio-materiality of well-being in Turku’s Linnakaupunki area
- Professor Elina Kilpi-Jakonen & working group (INVEST Research Centre, University of Turku): Youth inclusion environments: Factors of social participation, attachment and civic activity in the growth environments of culturally diverse young people
- Professor Piia Seppänen & working group (University of Turku, Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education CELE & University of Tampere, Education & Health Sciences): Comprehensive schools as centres for learning and well-being in Turku
- Professor Jaakko Suominen (University of Turku, Digital Culture & Centre for Collaborative Research): Game City Turku: development of game activities in urban space
- Assistant Professor Nina Tynkkynen & working group (Åbo Akademi University, public administration & TU Darmstadt): Who cares about sustainable housing? Municipal decision-making on housing and climate
- Timo Vuorisalo, Senior Lecturer, Docent (University of Turku, Biology and Law & Natural Resources Institute Finland): Social and cultural compensation as part of ecological compensation in a condensing urban environment: Case Turku (small funding process, shorter project)
- Professor Leena Hupa & working group (inorganic chemistry, geology and mineralogy, Åbo Akademi) University: Turku on sustainable ground
- Professor Elina Pirjatanniemi and research group (legal science and policy research, Åbo Akademi University Institute for Human Rights): Human Rights Cities – A Framework for Localizing Human Rights
- Professor Paula Salo & working group (psychology, philosophy and Centre for Collaborative Research, University of Turku): Promoting the well-being of urban residents by nudging towards climate-friendly commuting
- Professor Anssi Öörni & working group (information system science, economics and history of architecture, Åbo Akademi University and Aalto University): Perceptions of residential areas, attractiveness and development of housing prices in Finland in the 2000s
Precision studies launched in 2023
- Professor Raine Mäntysalo and Post-Doctoral Researcher Jenni Kuoppa (Aalto University, Strategic Urban Planning): Images of Kupittaa. Follow-up study on the early stages of the Kupittaan kärki partnership project, from the perspective of interpretative policy analysis in urban planning and project development. Funding from the Urban Research Programme and the key project, 8/2023–3/2025
- Managing Director Jenni Airaksinen (Foundation for Municipal Development) and Researcher Anni Kyösti (Itla / FCG): Evaluation of the impact of the Turku Urban Research Programme. 12/2023–5/2024
- Research Manager Signe Jauhiainen and Senior Researcher Laura Peutere (Kela Research Department): How do the profiles of unemployed immigrants and the long-term unemployed differ in Turku and other major cities in Finland? Funding as part of the preparation of the employment service reform, 3/2023–3/2024
Precision studies launched in 2022
- Post-Doctoral Researcher Jani Koskinen & working group (information system science, law, philosophy, University of Turku): Further project for the Eettinen OmaData-operaattori project. Funding for the development project coordinated by the City of Turku, 2022.
Precision studies launched in 2021
- Senior Researcher Sari Puustinen & working group (future research, architecture, social sciences, University of Turku & Tampere University & Helsinki Information Centre): The impacts of the pandemic on the use of leisure services and facilities. Joint funding for the six largest cities 3–9/2021
- Post-Doctoral Researcher Jani Koskinen & working group (information system science, law, philosophy, University of Turku): Ethical consent management system. Funding from the Kaupunki omadataoperaattorina consent management system development project, 2–10/2021
Precision studies and co-financing launched in 2020
- Professor Petri Tapio & working group (Future Research and UKK Institute): The hobby voucher ass a promoter of the physical activity and well-being of children and young people. Co-financing 12/2020–12/2022 (extension of the Strategic Research Council project)
Precision studies launched in 2019
- Professor Heli Marjanen and researchers (University of Turku, economic geography): Reasons for using services, modes of transport and spending in Turku city centre. Financiers: Urban Research Programme, the key project for city centre development and Turku City Centre Association, 2019.
- Juulia Räikkönen, DSc (Econ) and researcher (University of Turku, Biodiversity Unit/Economic Geography): Open doors to the Academy - Academic history, cultural heritage and scientific research as a resource for a living and experiential urban culture, co-funding 2019–2020
- MPSc Henri Koskinen (University of Turku, Sociology): Young people’s perceptions and experiences of available services, 2019
- Markku Jokisaari, DSc (Econ) and Researcher (University of Turku, Management): Analysis of the sports ecosystem in Turku, funding from urban research programme and Sports Services (extension of the Strategic Research Council project)
Logos
We ask that projects funded by the Turku Urban Research Programme use the Turku Urban Research Programme logo in connection with their presentations.
Logos can be downloaded here: Turku Urban Research Programme logos
Instructions for the authors of the Tutkimuskatsauksia research reviews series
In the publication series of the Turku Urban Research Programme, the researchers describe the results of the research funded by the programme in a non-technical manner and their significance for urban development. The concept of the publication requires the preparation of manuscripts accordingly. The City of Turku is responsible for the layout of publications.
Related content:
In the research reviews, the researchers of the projects funded by the Urban Research Programme describe their research results in a non-technical manner.
Steering group
The Urban Research Programme steering group outlines the content of the research programme. The steering group meets 3–4 times a year.
Turku Urban Research Programme steering group 2025
- Timo Aro, Director of Strategy, City of Turku
- Piia Elo, Mayor, City of Turku
- Elise Haapamäki, Development Manager, City of Turku
- Timo Hintsanen, Director of Urban Planning, City of Turku
- Marko Joas, Vice-Rector, Åbo Akademi University
- Marjo Kaartinen, Rector, University of Turku
- Anssi Kaisti, Senior Specialist, Secretary of the Urban Research Programme Steering Group
- Elina Kilpi-Jakonen, Professor, University of Turku
- Leo Lahti, Professor, University of Turku
- Gunilla Widén, Rector, Åbo Akademi University
- Hanna Mattila, Research Director of Turku Urban Research Programme, Rapporteur
- Erik Mäkelä, Assistant Professor, University of Turku
- Vesa Palander, Director of Vitality, City of Turku
- Minna Sartes, Director of Integration, City of Turku
- Nina Tynkkynen, Professor, Åbo Akademi University
The city appoints a separate steering group for each research project funded by the Urban Research Programme, which includes experts from the City of Turku and, where necessary, also from other organisations.
The role of the steering group is to bring the city’s point of view to the projects, to consider together with researchers the significance of the results for the development of the City of Turku, and to ensure the communication of the knowledge generated within the city's organisation.
